This project is my anniversary present from my husband, Andy. (How many women would be so excited over a run down “barn find” which will mean HOURS of work!) So, he talked me into sharing it, here, so here goes:
This is a 1930̵...

Welcome aboard. Since you are into refinishing I’d like to ask a question. I bought a Baldwin piano. Paid around $100.00 for it so I don’t have much to loose. The finish on the two top surfaces Keyboard cover and top seems to have had too many flower posts with excess water stored on top. The finish is cracked or missing. It’s Oak veneer over something and a couple of places on the legs and keyboard cover are missing pieces of veneer.

But my question is about the refinishing products which I guess kind of disolve the finish al allow you to move it around the smooth out the surface.

Can you tell me anything about it and or something else to try. I just didn’t want to totally restrip. The side are all OK./

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware soon moving to Virginia karsonwm@gmail.com †

Welcome to Lumberjocks Marilyn this is a great place to get inspired. You won’t believe it but some guy actually made a box that looked just like one of those old 50’s radios, where do they dream them up??Enjoy the journeyBest regardsTrevor

@Karson, not sure how to answer your question. My area of “expertise” is older furniture, usually oak. My one and only experience with trying to “reveneer” was a total nightmare, and I ended up painting that piece!My refinishing decisions are made based on my perceived value of the piece, where I’m going to put it and the flavor of that room. Back to your piano, I don’t think there is a way to make it perfect without a LOT of time and effort. But you can make it better with a quicky refinish on the top, and piece in pieces of veneer where it’s missing. It will just make it more presentable, and a large doily will disguise it further. Seriously, try lacquer thinner on it, if it dissolves it, it’s lacquer. Alcohol will disolve shallac. Then a light sanding and new stain and finish should make it pretty nice. Be careful about sanding, don’t go through the veneer. It looks like walnut, and hopefull is thick enough to handle sanding. Good luck, let me know.

@tdv, lol, I know, what’s up with that WOODEN radio?!!!! What good is that?? No beat, can’t dance to it!

Maybe he mis-understood when someone said let the wood speak, Should tell him it doesn’t quite work like that, mind you what we get on our radio stations in the UK it’s probably the best kind of radio to have. Beautiful though isn’t it? got my vote anywayBestTrevor

Hi there,Welcome to LumberJocks… I joined the site myself just about 2 years ago and will give you fair warning, this site is VERY ADDICTIVE, VERY EDUCATIONAL, and VERY FUN…. so sit back, enjoy the ride and learn from the other LJ’s as they are a group of extremely talented people that are also very friendly…I apologize for the late welcome but I am currently serving overseas and don’t have a lot of spare time on my hands.

Enjoy your time here on LJ and pass the word to any of your woodworking buddies about us…

Wisty

-- New Project = New Tool... it's just the way it is, don't fight it... :)